Darien Bucks Pricey Coffee Decline Trend
NEIRAD enilno edition
Starbucks has already closed 600 stores nationwide and laid off more than 1,000 workers this year. Profits have recently plummeted 97%, as people come to the realization that $3.65 for a cup of coffee is both slightly excessive and economically unwise. But while the success of Starbucks around the nation is rapidly declining, the Starbucks in Darien on Post Road doesn’t seem to be affected by the financial meltdown.
With the ever-worsening economic condition of our nation, people are becoming more conscious of their spending habits. Many are opting for cheaper alternatives to food and goods, and luxury items are no longer as frequently purchased.
But why is it still difficult to find a parking spot at the popular coffee café before school? It seems as if Darien residents have not given up their daily $3.75 Caramel Macchiatos just yet.
Economically-aware sophomore Charlotte Phillips says, “Although I can’t argue that Darien residents have been affected by the financial crisis, a lot of families don’t consider making the Starbucks sacrifice. I think it’s because they don’t see how the costs add up,” and Phillips may be right. It seems as though Darien town citizens don’t realize how much the price they are paying for an over-priced morning perk is affecting them.
Though it is possible that some people have become aware of the cost, the Starbucks line is still long. Sophomore Katie Grozier said that the “line used to be out the door and now it’s noticeably shorter.” Grozier also says that her dad has started cutting back from multiple visits
“The price of Starbucks doesn’t affect me,” says avid Starbucks drinker and junior, Tim Westcott. Most people in Darien refuse to give up Starbucks just because it might make a dent in their wallet.
While it is unclear the exact toll the financial crisis has taken on Starbucks in Darien, it is clear that our affluent town, as Phillips puts is, “cannot imagine mornings without buying from Starbucks.”
